Kareena: I am a very homely girl

Kareena is shooting for a TV commercial and she looks like a million bucks. On spotting you , she says, "Come. Let's settle down for a chat." Kareena Kapoor (TOI Photo)

Excerpts from the interview:

You look far calmer these days; quite unlike the restless Kareena we all knew a few years ago.
I was a child then.

Is it the Saif effect?
Of course, it is. Also, experiences have made me stronger.

Like?
I mean whatever I have gone through in my personal and professional life. I’m a stronger girl now, far more at ease with myself than I was earlier. I’m doing things, which I want to.

You have moved on in your personal life. Was it difficult parting with Shahid?
Yes, it was a very difficult period. Whatever went wrong between Shahid and me is very personal. I have always maintained that Shahid will always be part of my life. But, we are better off as friends. There is no animosity.

On hindsight, do you think you could have done something to save the relationship?
Sometimes there are no reasons for things which happen in life. Even if there’s one, I don't think it’s right to talk about it openly.

Did it take time for your family to absorb the fact that you were in love with Saif?
No, I don't think so. My mother is cool about it. And Karisma and Saif get along like a house on fire.

How is Saif as a partner?
He is fun and extremely loyal. He has all the qualities which I always wanted in a man.

Is he very possessive? There were stories that he was upset with your dress at the IIFA awards and also when you gave a peck on the cheek to Sylvester Stallone?
Saif is very supportive. He gives me space. All those stories were false.

You get along well with his two children, Sara and Ibrahim?
Both his kids are very loving. They are like Samaira (Karisma's daughter) to me.

Are you in touch with Shahid?
Oh yes. I message him and he messages me.

What about marriage with Saif?
Way in the future.

Way in the future? Not in the near future?
(Laughs) Yes, it's in the future definitely, but not for the next two-three years. But, we want to be together.

You value marriage. You helped Karisma reconcile with her husband Sanjay?
Contrary to what people believe, I am a very homely girl. I am always there for those who are there for me. Frankly, I am nobody to help somebody with their marriage. But as a sister, I can only offer support and advice. It has worked.

You lost out on Dostana and Dilli 6 because Abhishek didn't want to work with you?
Firstly, there was no fight with Abhishek. He has decided not to work with me and I have decided the same.

Bollywood stars Sharuk Khan is a property baron

From an actor to a producer, from an IPL cricket team owner to now a property baron, SRK is continuously tring out new frontiers to conquer. The actor is now involved in a Dh8 billion (US$2.18bn) residential development on Dana Islands in Ras al Khaimah, Dubai.

When asked if he regretted his decision of turning into a property developer in the UAE, considering the dismal economic climate, Khan said he was optimistic about the scenario. Said the King Khan, "'Yes, the timing was a bit off. But I am positive that it would turn all around. And honestly, the global recession has not touched us as yet. In my opinion, recession is not going to take people away from their homes or their decision to buy one." Well here's hoping that this prophecy comes true.

Top earners of today - Actors

Diwali means festival of lights and joy. Diwali also means welcoming the Goddess of money, Laxmi to our homes. So Diwali also has a lot to do with money and monetary gains. That makes up discuss the monetary gains of our film celebrities.

Bollywood, no longer, is an industry that plays in lakhs. The gamble has grown bigger. Today they talk in multiples of crores. That’s the budget of our films and a major part of which is constituted by the star remunerations.

Remunerations decide who is ruling the industry and how. Today we talk about the top actors as per their market value. Akshay Kumar In the last couple of years, Akshay Kumar has overtaken Shah Rukh Khan when it comes to gaining the Number 1 position.

With a constant spate of hits like Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyya, Welcome and Singh is Kinng, Akshay Kumar is the most coveted actor in Bollywood today.

From his earlier choice of directors like Suneel Darshan, Dharmesh Darshan and Raj Kanwar, Akshay has also graduated to more sensible directors like Vipul Shah, Anees Bazmee and Priyadarshan. He even surged past SRK on the small screen when he charged Rs 1.5 crore per episode for Fear Factor which was higher that SRK’s fees for Kya Aap Panchvi Paas Se Tez Hai .

Akshay has also gained a strong fan-following in the international arena, something which only Shah Rukh boasted of earlier.

Brand ambassador ho toh aisa!

When Shah Rukh Khan tells you that he invests his money in ICICI bank, you would like to believe him. And most people do. So it was not surprising when the bank roped in their brand ambassador to save their faces in a crisis.

With rumours floating that ICICI bank is on the verge of a financial collapse, their stock value began to drop drastically and investors began pulling out their money to prepare for a bailout. That's when King Khan stepped in. He might be busy jostling between hectic shooting schedules for his forthcoming films Billo Barber and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi but that didn't stop him from squeezing time to shoot for an ad for ICICI bank, a brand that he has been endorsing for sometime now. Shah Rukh Khan is one actor who has been endorsing the same products for years. Be it Santro, Tag Hueur, Videocon, Dish TV, Sunfeast or Pepsi, SRK has been the face of all these brands since the day he first signed the deal.

Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar says, “Apart from being available and popular, what works to rope in Shahrukh Khan as an ambassador is his creative inclination. He always provides advice and insight to make the promotion better. His creative involvement in the ad campaign is one more aspect that makes him the most wanted endorser.”

On his brand association, SRK was once quoted as saying, “I can't endorse a whole lot of products. Whatever I am or have been endorsing, I have been associated with it for years and they are like family.” No wonder then, that the star took time out to shoot an ad for the bank. Truly, brand ambassador ho toh aisa!

Katrina plans her christmas holidays.

Who says acting is easy and actors have the world in their hands.Traveling from one place to another for long outdoor shoots can take a toll and facing the heat is Katrina Kaif. Kats' is currently shooting in New York with John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh for Kabir Khan's film, produced by Yashraj.

The tight schedule has kept her away from home for over two months. She then had to fly out to Dubai for a day to join SRK and Kareena Kapoor for the Temptations Reloaded tour. "I am feeling homesick," she said. Katrina recalls the time her pretty sister Isabelle had come down to town to spend some quality time with her. "Isabelle was on a vacation. She flew down here to spend sometime with me. I miss my family a lot. I miss my home.

But what to do my professional commitments keep me busy. I am glad that my family flies down to meet me whenever they can." But the biggest celebration that Katrina looks forward to is the family reunion during Christmas. "I am trying my best to see if we can all be together." Katrina adds, "I hope no professional work comes up then. I have kept my fingers crossed from now."